Finally, there is a voice a reason in the midst of all the Kristen Stewart-Robert Pattinson cheating scandal insanity. Stewart’s former co-star, acclaimed actress Jodie Foster, wrote an essay in defense of Stewart and other young celebs under constant surveillance by the media. Foster’s piece serves as a much needed reminder that all young people make mistakes, but it doesn’t mean they deserve to be judged solely on the things they’ve done wrong.

The past few weeks have been hell for Stewart, as the public has repeatedly bashed the young starlet for her affair with the married director, Rupert Sanders. While her private life has crumbled to pieces very publicly, Stewart has done her best to deal with the intense scrutiny. As soon as rumors of the affair appeared, Stewart issued a public apology owning up to her mistake. Though that wasn’t enough for the blood-hungry public. Despite her attempts to remain under the radar and to make amends to the ones she cares for most, Stewart has received death threats and condemnation in return.

As a child star herself, Foster understands some of the pressure young actors like Stewart feel to maintain their image. But even Foster admits that it goes to far. She writes, "If I were a young actor today I would quit before I started. If I had to grow up in this media culture, I don’t think I could survive it emotionally."

That’s a bold statement to make, especially for an Academy Award-winning actress who has been in the business for over 46 years, and started acting at the age of 3. Yet, Foster makes a valid point; this all-consuming media culture does much more damage than it should.

For Stewart, the loss of her boyfriend is bad enough. Having to deal with the scorn of people who don’t know her personally but feel like they have a say in her personal life only makes everything harder to bear. Rather than sit back and judge Stewart from a distance, Foster shows that kindness and empathy go a long way.

"My mother had a saying that she doled out after every small injustice, every heartbreak, every moment of abject suffering. ‘This too shall pass,’" Foster continued. "Now it just seems quaint, but oddly true … Eventually this all passes. The public horrors of today eventually blow away."

It seems like Foster is the only one willing to step up and say enough is enough. And until the rest of us do so, we are continuing to perpetuate a vicious cycle that derides a young woman for being just that; a young woman.